Candlemaking apparatus



Aug. 4, 1953 c. J. SCHROEDER 2,fi47,282

CANDLEMAKING APPARATUS Filed June so, 1950 s SHeretsFShehat' 1 IN V EN TOR.

Carl J Schr eder Wafer 5 am nrrokmsv C. J. SCHROEDER CANDLEMAKING APPARATUS Aug. 4, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 30. 1950 JNVENTOR. Carl I J. Schroeder Arron/vs) Aug. 4, 3 c. J. SCHROEDER 2,647,282

CANDLEMAKING APPARATUS Filed June' 30, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 8 INVENTOR.

Carl J. Schroeder 9% y M Aug. 4, 1953 c. J. SCHROEDER 2,647,282

CANDLEMAKING APPARATUS Filed June so, 1950 G'Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

l Egg/ 1. Schr eder ATTORNEY g- 4, .1953 c. J. SCHROEDER 2,647,282

' CANDLEMAKING APPARATUS Filed June 30, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ,22- 42 INVENT.

M7 Carl J. Sch o'er ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 4, 1953 mIENt GANDIQEMAKING APPARATUS- iela-mo es, H ond 1.425 2 essence to ntfandaru OiLQoxuhany, Chicago,

atio Q? ln iana I Il s; a term Applioationlunofiil, 19 Serial candles;

In making dipped: candles heretoiore, has been the practice to. attach a number of wicks by. means of individual springloadcdz clamps to a rack anclv lower them manually into. a bath; of molten wax. The Waxfor this. purpose is usually paraffin that has been modified: with. stear-in acid osye, etc. The wicks and the adhening: wax are withd rawn from the bath cooled until; the wax layer has solidified. In this. operation a con tain amount of tangl-ing occurs which. must; be corrected; by the hariciwork of the operates Th dipping operation is repeated; until the desiized diameter of the candle body is. obtained Not mally partial chips are necessary in omen to ob: tain the desired taner of the candlev body. 'lfhe number of layers; of waxmay vary between; 1-5 and. 36 depen lins on the temperature of: the molten Wax, the air t mperature in the dippin res n and the des s diameter of the; cana s ithe candles ar us melted to nlf nenlensth on, a hot plate and; the htttts; are Shanon to: it 21 te candle heldelx Usually he; candle s. sh a finishin clip a hish tmelt g ax in d r to olot in more p easin snrfac an: hee anee a d t n eve the earnin oualities sinne a -n.0n-

e f ct-'- can le b i en a. sur ce olor di ie ent item ore eo o by a in at, has been d ed th e i ed'colo V T ob e t. of in ent on s to provide an improved a par us d npinacanalee whereby pr duction costs are ream d: to a rhini-v mum, spe d: ofpxoouction is, incr ase and: the unn mit of, he n roduot. is mummies. a 11121 th r b t is to pr v de a andl dippinean-- paratus that is essentially automaticv open: ation.

It is also; an object of the invention to; provide an improved wick holcting rack Which holds the candles in perfect alignment slipping on ho e and eliminates sheilage thr ugh (iiSiEOJC: n and warpa e- ,A ad itional oha'ect is to provide a candle clinging rack that produces dipped candies of accurate lengths; an? other object is to provide a candle. dipping rack that simplifies the wick installation and. the see moval of the candle anti: permitscloser-spacingof the candles Without spoilage. I

$ti1], another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved device for forming;- a taperetlbutt oncandles.

i leshe the w Other obj ects; of; the. invention will; become arent f Hous n detailed o s m'. i o ra neeifio exam esthereon In order to carry out my invention I haste provid s im ov s; wh e11 h ch s Ma in on a vetti 1 si h Sec ons. posed ang ap}; 11-191 9.

entra molten hath a tions- Th w s; e -ti l is fo m. e. WW9}: i

the cand edihn I isms.-v 31 wheel? i riages may; be ppsi; honed; ove zite orm na E -i e. and; over ther W x; baths the) candle, atlen ar a es. man e; nosition o adjacent: na s ns tabl A. cl are uh elts ahdms of: the. nve t on. and the various. features theneofs wiiil he. gamect fnom the iollowins descrzipt on. ta en in connection with he ac ompanying: drawin s wheneih Ir have illustrated a preiemzeo embodiment. thereot.

In the drawings, whenein similan parts: are designated? by like reference chanaoters thnoueh outitheisevenal views,

Figure L shows. in plan the. nelation of two, wheels to the track system. a pontion of the tnack system leading to the finishing operations.

Eigure 2 is an. elevation of my improved wheel showing in elevational section the vertically movable-j waxbath and. two of the cooling stations.

Figure 3- is a pantial plan Viewv of: my wheel showing the. construction of: thetnaciial arms and the triple crank torrotati-ngthe. whee Figure, 4 1s aflplan view of the Wax bath.

Figure 5 is an elevational section of; the wax bath showing the constant level amrangement' andoverflow: system and.- the knife-edge for re Figure 6: is a vertical section taken along; the

Figure is an elevational view of the dipping rack and a, partial view of the carriage that supports the rack.

Figure 11 is a vertical section through the dipping rack and carriage taken along the line I I-l I of Figure 10.

Figures 12 and 13 are views of a portion of the end frame rod and the locking lug.

Figure 14 is a view of a portion of the upper wick holder as taken along the line l4--I4 of Figure 11.

Figure 15 shows an alternate form of the upper wick holder bar.

Figure 16 is a partial sectional view of two upper wick holder bars as taken along the line l6i6 of Figure 14.

Figure 17 shows a portion of the end frame and of three of the lower wick holder bars.

Figure 18 is a sectional view of the end-frame and a portion of a lower wick holder bar as taken along the line 18-18 of Figure 17.

Figure 19- is a sectional view of an embodiment for locking in place the outer upper wick holder bars.

Figure 20 is a plan view of a portion of the guide plate of the candle butt forming machine.

Figure 21 is a plan view of a portion of the mold plate of the butt forming machine.

Figure 22 is an elevational view through a section of the butt forming machine showing the guide plate, the mold plate, the carrier, the heating elements and the molten wax drain.

Fig. 23 is an enlarged view of one portion of the carriage mounting and a portion of the track section attached to the radial arm.

Fig. 24 is a section taken along the line 24-24 of Fig. 23.

Referring to Figure l, the wheels, which are described below, are mounted alongside an endless overhead track 3! which moves past the candle butt former 32 and finishing dip wax baths 33 and packing tables, not shown. ,Turntables 34 are provided so that the rack supporting carriages may be moved from track 3! to one of the track sections on a wheel, transferred from the wheel back to the endless track or passed directly along the endless track. It is to be understood that suitable aligning means, such as pivoted channel sections, may be used to hold the turntable, wheel, and endless track sections in fixed position with respect to each other when a rack. supporting carriage is transferred. Likewise suitable locking means prevent the carriages from rolling from the end of the track sections.

-Referring to Figure 2, a vertical shaft 36 is journaled in a bearing on the floor and on the ceiling. Radially extending arms 39 are supported by tie rods 40 and they are held in spaced radial positions by spacer segments 4|. The radial arms 39 are of slotted construction but can be solid for a major part of their length with a slot at the outer end only. At the outer end of each radial arm 39 is fixed rigidly a track section 43. Mounted above and near the extremity of the wheel is a hydrauic motor which is connected to a speed reducer 45. The speed reducer 46 is connected by a shaft 41 to a triple crank 48. The triple crank consists of an equilateral triangular frame work connected to the shaft 41 at the geometric center of the triangle; each leg 49 of the triangle is the length of the chord distance between the ends of adjacent radial arms 39. At the tips of the triangle and at the right angles to the plane of the firemework are placed cylindrical crank pins 59 which crank pins engage the slots at the end of the radial arms 39. When motor 45 is activated, the triple crank rotates and the crank pins force the wheel to rotate; one crank pin 53 is always in engagement with a slotted radial arm. At the rest point of the triple crank, one radial arm 39 rests directly above molten wax bath 53 and the other arms rest directly above a cooling air outlet grill 54 of cooling air conduit 55.

The track sections 43 support a carriage 51 which carriage supports the candle dipping rack 58. The wax bath 53 rests on a platform 60 which is connected by piston El to a hydraulic cylinder 62. When the platform to is raised by the piston 61, the wax bath rises and the wax submerges the dipping rack 58 and leaves a layer of wax on the wicks or partially completed candles supported in the rack.

The hydraulic cylinder 52 and the hydraulic motor 45 are interconnected by a common hydraulic system, not shown, wherein solenoid valves cut off the hydraulic fluid from the cylinder 62 when the platform 63 is in the lowest position and open the lines to the motor 55 which rotates the triple crank 38 and causes the wheel to rotate; a solenoid valve is energized when the triple crank has made one-third of a revolution and stops the motor 45; another solenoid changes the hydraulic fluid flow to raise platform til; at the highest point the solenoid is deenergized and the platform is lowered; whereupon the cycle is repeated. While this interlocked system for rotating the wheel and raising and lowering the Wax bath is an important part of my system, all components thereof are conventional and hence require no detailed description. In addition to the automatic operation, the operation of the apparatus by hand control is provided for. For example, it is desirable to be able to rotate the wheel without operating the wax bath platform.

The tank 53 which holds the molten wax bath is encased in insulation 55 which reduces the heat loss from the tank which must be maintained at a temperature of about -1 l5 F. The tank itself may be made of any metal not reacted on by the stearic acid normally used as a component of paraffin wax candles; preferably it is made of aluminum. Molten wax enters the tank through a pipe 6'! which pipe is equipped with swivel joints 68, 39 and 69a to permit the bath to be raised and lowered. The loss of heat from the tank is compensated for by circulating hot water or steam through a coil ill immersed in the tank 53. The line H into the tank and line 12 out of the tank are equipped with swivel joints similar to the wax line 61. Instead of the swivel jointed lines, flexible hose could be used if it is made of material which will not be affected by the wax or discolor the wax.

In order to permit close control. of the candle length, tank 53 is equipped with a constant level control as shown in Figure 5. The preferred type of constant level control is weir "i5 placed in one side of the tank. Attached to the tank so as to receive the flow from the weir i5 is a chamber 16 and a telescoping overflow drain pipe 11 which leads the excess wax to a recovery system, not shown. Other types of constant level controls may be used, for example, a float valve set in a separate chamber, but because of its simplicity the weir is preferred.

When the wicks are removed from the wax baths, the Wax drips and solidifies in icicle-like tails below the dipping rack. It is necessary for tachedi to: edge of. the: tank; so as: to. extend. well beyond the: cutting Ella The knife: bar will pick. up: heat. from the tank and become but; if. desired, the barmay he made hollow heated by. circulatin hot: water or stem through. it;

Normally the' as: ispermitted to. solidify his naturah cooling or by blowing. ordinary air past the rack. A. large improvement in. production rate and quality: is efiiected: by; using: cooling. air that; has boom adjusted in temperature to; be: tween 60 and. 715 E. annular conduit. 545 is. supported. by" struoture d4; beneath the: outer portion: or. the. radial arms. 39;. except; for the space occupied. by the wax bath ('see; Figures 2, '1; and-l8);'.. Theupper surfacev d5. oi the conduit (see E'igu're. 8. is placed a short. distance below the bottom of. thercandi'e dipping raclc lid. The upper portionflB isperioratedito. form a grill-like. struce tare 5.4 groups corresponding to. the number 01% radial arms; extending. over the conduit. Although a simple hole will operate fairly well, marring of; the candle surface by essentially.- turbulent air is eliminated if the air outlets as are given a. shape to provide: stream-lined flow as shown in Figure 9:. Extending vertically upward irom the conduit at the. inner and outer eriphcries: are. cylindrical walls: 8&9 and: so which rise. nearly up; to theradial arms. The walls 83 and 9.8% prevent. diversion or the cooling air to. the sides. of the. wheel; reduce turbulence. in the. air stream and increase the rate of cooling of the wax.

Candie dipping rack.

Carriage 51 is mounted by rollers I65], from track section 43' as shown in Figs. 2. 23 and Thecarriage itself ('see Figures 10 and 11) consi-sts of a supportingrod 95' connected by bolts $6 to rollers 55 (see Figs. 2, 28 24) and diagonal legs 9-? which are attached to u-nistrut members. 98 which are perpendicular to and placed near the. opposite ends of the rod 95. Rollers lfi5 may be. briefly described as a yoke on which two pairs of wheels Hit are pivoted by means oi journal-s M51- and stub. shafts Hid. The rollers Hill are connected to the carriage at by bolts Q6. The rollers operate; in. track. section 43 which substantially encloses the wheels; means of downwardly extending flanges fill and. curved bottom flanges I71 on which the wheels its, are adapted to run. Bolts so are attached to red 95. through vibration dampening members; tilt and 102 which are preferably made of rubber. Other methods of hanging the rod 95 so as to prevent the transfer of vibration from the track ec i n o he soft ax an les n he rock: may he used. Even slight vibration of the rack causes undesirable ripples to appear in the surface or the candles. Attached to the ends of rod are bumpers, I03 which. may be simply rubber us io s r sp n loaded shock a so bers- The horizontal members 99, preferably of unistrut construction, are in the samev horizontal plane;

their length and; distance apa t is det rmined he the size or the wax: both sed: for the dish operation. 'lhe bars: $8. eaeh; support. n: embodiment, two loss M see Fi ures 1:2 and 123; e tend: chore he bars. hues 1% have a vertical slot 505; he ut r" urface oi he o aod; a horizontal; slot- Hit near he ncersuri eo or the 111s. 'Ifhe ondi ames i the ii-re nsr s consist; or a flat: tar 598 that has re sses; We csee Fi ure 117); eat intothe; lower edge thoraci- Extendime: vom eal r from ea the ends oi h low r bar aretwo rods or abou th some ameter as the width. oi 1. s l t. m5; near he upp r end of rod. H6: a pin Mlis inserted; pin lit into me slot we. The upp r linof slot I 6 is shortened somewhat so that the: nd fram can be attached to the bar :8: y tilt g: B H t an male to the, vertical, inserting pin Md; into slat, Hit nd; lowering the end-frame so thatrods l-Hl enter sl t. It? and. ha ver ical-1y; method of hang-ins: the nd frames results a. positive lookin a tion sincehe end. rames cannot. be removed ey a e l ed at a sufficient angle from the vertical. of attaching the endeirames can. e re di y devised out. this. method is s m le: an irtuala fflolproofi I he end lira-mes need he made. his par ticula r manner. a. '1?" constru t on w on y one vertical bar may e used; However it rote-r able to. use the illus ra ed io m; b cause Wax builds on on th rods: and the lar ersize n e sary for a single. veriioal member would; result in excessive; wax: buildup; this disability can be,

. overcome by spacin the end rame. forth-or f om the adjacent candle wicks but is. can be done only by decree-s ne. the num r of c nd es on h Th ho zontal orflo should; be. as as: t uc ral: req irement p rmit. in o der to prevent buildup, 0i war on; the top edge or the bar; forming: a tapered edge e pp r P of. this bar will also. d crease wax buildu The len th of rods H8; is determined bythe-length of the candleheinoproduo d: however. in order to gain flexibility ad i nal. cr ss pi s H can e plac d nt th r d. at. points equal to: vari us candl leng hs such a la, 12, 16 and 18. inc e The candle wicks H5 are held iii-the dipping o k byme ns. of imp rand lower wick holdin bars. Upper wick holding; bars H1 are supported y mem rs 8!9- Th se bars H1 may e rig dy rastened to: memor a, s sh wn in Fi ure 15 or they may be r m va as show i 14 and 1.6-. The r m vable uppe w ck holde s have attached to their ends, a metal strip H8 dimensioned to fit slid'ably into the unistrut member 9!! (Figure M). Qthermethods. of supporting these bars H? on member 96 are readily apparent. Metal strips I'm areof such length that adjacent. bars H? are held at. the. proper spacing; for the desired candle diameter.

Spaced at proper distances along the length at wickholder bar H? are the actual wick supporte ing members lid which I designate as "weol-gre.-. hooks. The wedgehoohs are made from smooth surfaced ductile metal which can be bent into such a form that a Wedge shaped space is formed between the shank portion and the curved nib portion of the wick supporting member i231. The lower wick holder bar I 23 is made from a thin flat strip of metal; with a knife edged upper portion to decrease wax buildup; near the ends of member [23 recesses I24 are cut to receive the horizontal bar 115 of the endeframe (Figure 1d) i Spaced alone the. length of the lower wick Other mean holder bar I23 are wedgehooks I25 which are so arranged in relation to an upper wedgehook I that a wick stretched between vertically adjacent wedgehooks will be perpendicular to the wick holding bars. For convenience in holding the wick when it is strung from the end wedgehook on one lower bar to the adjacent wedgehcok on an adjacent lower bar, a small nib I20 (Figure 18) may be placed on the tip of the end lower wedgehooks. The wedge shaped space in the wedgehooks must be at such an angle that the wick will be firmly held from slipping through the wedgehooks and yet must be held lightly enough that a slight upward force on the wick will release the wick from the grasp of the hook. The wedge portion must be smooth surfaced or the wick will not release readily. While any corrosion resistant metal that can be bent or shaped to the proper form may be used, I have found Monel metal to be the best for this purpose. I prefer to use an even number of wedgehooks on each bar in order to increase the ease of wicking the rack and removing the completed candles.

When the upper wick holder bars are removable and are designed to slip into a unistrut bar. it is necessary to provide some means of locking the end bars into place. A convenient way of doing this is shown in Figure 19. A hole is drilled at the proper place in member 09. A retractable stub I30 is mounted in a hole made in the end of upper wick holder Ill. A slot I3i is machined into stud I30; a spring I32 is inserted into the hollow end of member I ll; screw I34 is fastened to member H9 so that it extends into slot I3I and prevents the stud I30 popping out of the hole. The rounded surface or stud I30 allows the wick holder bar to be put into place by light pressure on the bar and the spring forces the stud through the hole in unistrut 09. To remove the end upper holder the stud I39 is forced into the hole by thumb pressure and the wick holder bar is then removed. While the above is preferred for my purposes, other methods may readily be devised to lock the removable end upper wick holder bars in place.

The candle dipping rack is exposed to corrosion by the stearic acid present in most candle compositions, so corrosion resistant materials should be used in its construction. Furthermore, the parts should be as small as strength requirements permit in order to reduce wax buildup. I prefer to make the wedgehooks out of Monel metal and the other parts of stainless steel.

Candle butt tapering After the dipping process is complete, the dipping rack is transferred to endless track 3 I. The lower wick holders and end frames are removed by cutting candles and wicks adjacent the lower wick holder and the candles hang supported by the upper wick holders only. The carriage is moved into :position over the butt tapering machine 32 where the end is shaped to fit a standard candle holder. A preferred embodiment of my improved butt tapering machine comprises a carrier I40 (see Figures 20 and 22) which is made of metal that has a high heat conductivity, and is not corroded by stearic acid, such as, aluminum. Carrier I40 is provided with thermostatically controlled heating means; the preferred heating means, electrical resistance elements I42, are illustrated. Although steam or hot water may be used for heating purposes electrical heating provides more accurate control of temperature, permits wide and rapid variation in the heat input and permits a simpler construction of the carrier.

Mold plate I43 which is made of metal, such as aluminum, is provided with holes I44 which are in the form of a frustum of a cone, i. e., the shape of the socket of a candle holder. The mold holes I44 are bottomless (open bottomed) so that no obstruction occurs to the rapid removal of the molten wax as the candle butt is lowered into the hot mold hole as happens when a perforated bottom exists in the mold hole. The upper surface of the heating element containing carrier I40 is provided with serrations forming interconnected channels I46 which carry the molten wax away to the drain I41. The raised portions I43 of the serrations support the mold plate I43. The supporting ridges I48 and the mold plate I43 are held together tightly by screws I40 in order to insure good heat transfer from the hot carrier I40 to the mold plate I43. Spacing members I5I, preferably made of low heat conductivity material, support above the mold plate I43 a guide plate I54 which is made of material having a low coeflicient of heat transfer. Particularly good resuits were obtained when the guide plate was made from a Phillipine mahogany plywood sheet 1 inches thick that had been saturated with molten parafiin wax. However, the guide plate may be made of any material that is a poor heat conductor and that can be molded or worked readily, for example, Bakelite or asbestos cement.

The guide plate I54 is provided with holes I55 which are made in an inverted bell shape. These holes I55 equal in number the mold holes I44 and are placed directly above and on the same vertical axis as the corresponding mold holes. The number of mold holes and guide holes normally will be the same as the maximum number of candles carried by the dipping rack. The guide holes I55 are shaped to curve gradually from a diameter, at the mouth of the bell I56, that is substantially greater than the butt end of the candle to a diameter, at the throat of the hole I51 that is just perceptibly larger than the butt end of the candle. The thickness of the guide plate is such that the candle is supported vertically in the guide hole for a substantial portion of the thickness of the guide plate; this supporting height must be great enough that no marring of the surface of the candle occurs when the candle touches a portion of the guide hole during the butt forming operation. The mouth I56 of the guide hole must be large enough to permit the entrance of the candle even when the candle is swinging somewhat from the vibration of the carriage as it comes to rest above the butt tapering machine; about 1 times the butt diameter is a satisfactory mouth diameter. The guide plate must be thick enough to provide a slope of the guide hole that will permit the edge of the butt to pass into the throat quickly and without deformation; the guide plate thickness should be between 1 /2 and 2 times the butt diameter for good results.

The advantages of this type of guide plate are that the candle is not deformed or marred by the guide plate because this is relatively cool as a result of its low heat conductivity; the smooth surface of the guide holes and steep angle of the sides of the hole directs the candle end to the mold hole without marring the surface of the candle; the thick plate permits the candle to be supported vertically in the mold hole and pro- 9; duces; a: uniformly tapered ends. Ehese advantages increase the productiom rates. and decreasei the number ofcandles thatmusti be" rejected! be.-= cause- 0f defects,

The above illustrates a preferred; embodimeniil 6a.

of my invention and does not set out alLthBZpDS- sible variations thereon-1 thatrcanibe madeawithout departing from the: spirit of my invention; Ilhavei shown; the use of one wax batln and; cooling stations; however, the; number of cooling; sta tionsmay be, variedzto. suitv theuparticu-lanoperata ing. conditions. The number" of; waxi baths; may be increased by increasing: thelSiZewOfi thezwhfeel; When. a highmelt, waxis being. used; theiamountz of: ooling needed: islessiso'.- that thecooling stat tions may be decreasedland' a; secondzor thirdabatht introduced into theywheell shown; abouez. Un'den someconditions of. ODEIEiilOILthGEuSBOf GOQIiIIgialI may bev dispensed. with and natural: convection: alone relied upon tov cool the'candles.

Operation The; candlemaking operation begins withttheiassembly of, the candle. dippingrrack 531.1; Thea operator p a on h ndless raolcsystem:3:1; ax 2e: whicnicauses the triplercrank m to: revolve and dipping rack carriage; 5? andjnsertsiinto, thezunitstruts 99- the upper wiclaholders lqlz'l-,;;the,atwo, end}; wickzholdersit? are provided withzthesloclsines means shown in Figure 19. Next the operaton: attaches the end-frames by inserting; thls-cross pin H lot the rods l Iil-intothe slots-1 Mani lugs,- lM-f and allows the end-frames: tot-hangs vet-tie cally -thus they are securelylockedito the unis strut $59 The wicking operationisthen carriedl out bytloopin th w k o d ab u e i h i zc- 35 thei wick's andicontro'llingithe co'olingrat'e of' each wax: laxerr If? the: candles area not rigidly held- Wedgehooks 12s of an end upperl'wick-iholderc Hit;- a lower Wick holder lltisfitteddnto. slot-Justin. the-horizontal bar H381 oflthe end frames and-trier wick H5 is brought down, pulled taut andlwedged,

lower Wickv holder. The wick is passed horizon:

tally, to the adjacent lower wedgehook wedged into place and then taken vertically tolthe -correspending upper Wedgehook. This1= procedure; is: carried on to the last wedgehooks on the bars; then another lower wick holdenispl -t into posis tion and wicked and the operation; repeated until; all the-lower. holders arein place andrthezwiclp is fastened by a loop- -around the: last Wedgehooki-s Each wick is held tautby;itsuwedgehookssindew pendently of the other wicksinwtheirack-z Thus the lcwerwick; holders are held securely; tha force of I the taut. wicks: extendingl betweemther bars.- This arrangement permits;leasy and rapid assembly of the dipping rack-:- andr-allowssclosera spacing of the candles-becauseithereflis2no ing of the candles during..the-,dipping steps;

When enough assembled racksiarer-rreadmethee rack supporting carriages are transfer-red:totthea track sections #33 on the radial arms39 bytmeansfi of the turntablev 34.- During thisz-loadir-ig step -h the automatic controls are cutout andthelwheelt is rotated under manual control.

The wax tank 53 .isfilled withsarmoltenr-candle-z composition through inlet Bl usually th'e compo-= sition comprises a major proportion of 1309-13231 1 P. paraffin waxand a'minor proportior loi; stearic acid. If a colored,corecandle,.isudesired the appropriatedye is addedto thewax. The wax bath is maintained at v a 1 temperature: selected. from-the range-0f 140445811; theiwax tempera? ture is-maintined by means. ofta-heating; .coil,vimrmersed in the -tank,= through whichawatereis Ci1'-r;'- culated at a temperature within- 1-32? Fl- Ofi theidee into: the bath: continuously and the level of the HI hooks: I2 0 (the: distance between the bottom or upper wedgehook and the topedge ot -tli'i lower wick: holder-[ban determines the candle length) at which time: the platform stops a d immediateln is reversed: and lowered to: its rest 14? position. While the wick was in theswax bath a layer ofi" wax was coated thereon; In; normal dipping r'ack will overflow into the chamber "W and be carried away bythe drain pipe l'i Wliem met-platform?! 8Z0 has reached it's lowposition; the solenoid-l'controls actuatethe hydraulic motor' 48- the 'cr'ank pinsifill toforce the wheel to turn clock- 30 tion. This. turning; movement takesabout: 2.5

seconds.

I have foundthat uniformity inz-shape offcan dles canrbabestiobtained byikeepingicandles rigid in: then: dipping rack; bringing the wax bath tw they "swing: and i bump each i other-, often freezing with -twoor three =stuck' together in clumps-, m

theusualmethod"ofdippingpby 1ow'enng tli'e can into the corresponding-end wedgehook; -2.6 orqtthiei: 40, wq *jntbtthf tom*of thezw icl resulting in-"misshapemc'andle Q Oftenpartial dips-- were-used to give the candle the" desired} taper shape:-

dippedmore or' less haphazard-1y;- some'fdipped. the wicl clampsinto the wax 'makingthe candi f' too thick at the top; others did not die aw enough. Myfracktanwmy procedureofibringiifg OII" thejwikl. This ermits; the pro'ductioh'f of? hangin'gj irom .the:- lower wick holders and. end-: frame; ,if not lremoved this; wouldinterferewith} the dippington the subsequent dips. Leliminat this=prob1emibyl-removingrthe wax tails :from the:

bath -s Azkn-ifetedgedlilaiwmounted on thewtank and,-is rsetrto saehei-ght 7J- below the; bottomnofc thetdipping racketa remove:thevsoft wax-ltails- Most-z: otith-e wax-drops:;into: the-:tankr -ibut semen-1. 7o dropseoif beyondthe knife; .inworderstoykeeplthisii waxwoff thezapparatuseand'floor;I h-ave'tprovided i a a shelfslikelextensionlwetosthe tanknwhich -actt assasdripepanzzandoreturnsethei drippings-ito' that wax tank 53 's While Iishowr'assolidabar;acbaii sirednbam tempgmtune; v Moltemwax i a s da with provisions for heating withosteamiwaterii m I ms. The hydraulic cylinder tz 'raises'tlie platform-Ell elevatesithe wait hath until the dipping frack 'is v The candle length?" 45.1; vaned-inmanual dipping becauseeach operator electricity may be used; in most instances a taut wire will remove the wax tails.

I have found that the optimum production of satisfactory quality candles using normal wax composition requires forced circulation of air around the cooling candles at a temperature between 60-75" F. I prefer to artificially cool, if necessary, air to this temperature, by means not shown, pass the air into conduit 55 from which conduit the air emerges through grill 54 and is directed by baiiles 89 and 90 to flow up through the candles supported in the dipping rack. The rate of air flow should be held below the point where turbulence causes defects to appear in the candle surface.

The dipping cycle is repeated until the layers of wax have been built up to the desired diameter. The number of layers needed will vary with wax composition and operating conditions but 15-30 layers, usually 18-24, will be enough. My preferred embodiment will produce 12 racks of candles in about 40 minutes.

After all the candles have been dipped to the proper diameter, the automatic controls are cut,

off and the loaded dipping racks are transferred to the endless track system 3! and the wheel loaded with empty racks. It is possible if desired to unload and load in sequence each track section 43 by the use of two turntables; the saving in time by so doing is so slight that I prefer. to unload completely the candle filled racks before loading with empty (wicked) rack.

The operator frees the candles in the rack by supporting each lower wick holder I23 with one hand while he draws a thin knife along the top of wick holder [23 cuttingthrough the plastic wax and the wicks. If the cutting is performed carefully each candle will have a smooth flat bottom. Cutting the wicks frees the wick holder l23; each row of candles is similarly out free of the lower wick holder. The candles hang by their wicks which are securely held by the upper wedge hooks I20. As can be seen in Figure the candles hang in pairs joined by a common length of wick at the tops of the candles. The operator then removes the end-frames and starts the carriage with its dangling candles to the finishing operations.

The carriage passes along the endless track system until it reaches a position directly over the butt tapering machine 32. The butt tapering machine is mounted on a vertically movable platform, not shown, which may be adjustably raised I to'any elevation dictated by the candle length beshaped candles [Bl are ready for the finishing dip.-

In order to improve the surface appearance and/or give a color different from the core color,

the butt tapered candles are moved over a finishing dip bath 33 and dipped therein. After the finishing dip the candles are cooled and passed along the track 3| to the packing tables. Here the joined pairs of candles are removed from the upper wedgehooks I20 and the common wick cut in two to form the exposed end of the wick of the finished candle. V

While I have described a preferred embodi ment of my invention, many modifications and alternative arrangements and procedures will be apparent from the above description to those skilled in the art.

Iclaim:

1. In a candle making machine the combination of a Wheel rotatable on a vertical axis, radially extending arms on said wheel, holders for. supporting the tops and bottoms of wicks and partly-formed candles positioned below and supported by said radial arms, a wax bath, means for intermittently rotating the wheel to carry said holders into position over the wax bath, means for reciprocably moving the wax bath toward and from the holders so as to immerse the wicks and partly-formed candles thereon in the wax bath during each stop period of the wheel and means for removing during the period of movement of the wheel Wax tails partly-formed candles.

2. In the combination of claim 1, means for contacting with a gaseous cooling fluid the wicks and partly-formed candles after these have been from the wicks and moved from a position over a wax bath.

formed candles and immersing these in the bath,

knife-like means for removing tails from the holders during the period of movement of the holders away from the position over the wax baths, and means for cooling the Wicks and partly-formed candles by contact with a gaseous coolillg iluid which cooling means is operative only on those holders not positioned over the wax bath.

4. In the combination of claim 3 means for introducing molten wax to the wax bath, means formaintaining a constant level of wax therein, and means for maintaining the wax bath at a predetermined temperature.

5. In the combination of claim 3, bafile members which direct the gaseous cooling fluid parallel to'the wicks and partly-formed candles.

6. The combination of claim 3 wherein thecooling means comprises a conduit positioned below the holders except for the space occupied by the wax bath, said conduit is provided with perforations which direct the cooling gaseous fluid toward the wicks and partlyformed candles and baffle members extending vertically from said conduit and enclosing the space traversed by the holders during the rotation of the wheel.

'7. In a candle dipping rack, the combination of a frame, supporting members carried by said frame in spaced relation horizontally, a plurality of upper elongated members carried by said supporting members, a plurality of upper wedge-- hooks carried by said upper elongated members, means for maintaining said upper elongated members in spaced relationship horizontally, a plurality of lower elongated members, a plurality of lower wedge-hooks carried by, and positioned below the upper plane of, said lower elongated members in spaced relationship corresponding to .the spacing of said upper wedge-hooks, and ad iustable means for positioning said lower elongated members a predetermnied distance corresponding to the desired candle length beneath said upper elongated members so that said upper and said lower wedge-hooks are in vertical alignment such that a wick passed between corresponding upper and lower wedge-hooks is substandtially perpendicular to said elongated members, whereby a single continuous wick-cord may be readily passed between corresponding upper and lower wedge-hooks to obtain a plurality of substantially vertical wicks in said rack in order that a plurality of individual, separate candles can be produced by the dip method and whereby the individual, separate candles may be readily freed from said lower wedge-hooks by passing a knife along the upper plane of said lower elongated members and cutting the wicks at that point.

8. In the combination of claim 7, means for suspending said frame from a support.

9. In the combination of claim 7, wedge-hooks which are in the form of a hook with the nib bent on a convex curve to form a wedge shaped opening between the nib and the shank whereby a candle wick may be securely held by a wedging action.

10. In a rack which is adapted to the production of candles by the dip method, the combination of a frame, means for suspending said frame from an overhead support, parallel supporting members carried by said frame in spaced horizontal relationship, a plurality of upper rods carried by said supporting members, a plurality of spaced upper wedge-hooks carried by said upper rods, means for maintaining said upper rods in spaced horizontal relationship in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of said supporting members, vertical rod-like end-members adjustably mounted with respect to said supporting members, which end-members are provided with thin cross-members positioned a predetermined distance below said supporting members,

which cross-members are provided with notches in the lower plane thereof, a plurality of lower thin, narrow bars, a plurality of lower wedge hooks carried by, and positioned below the upper plane of, said lower bars in spaced relationship corresponding to the spacing of said upper wedgehooks, which lower bars are positioned in said notches of said cross-members to obtain a vertical alignment of said upper and lower wedge-hooks between said end-members and whereby said lower members are positioned in spaced horizontal relationship at a vertical distance beneath said upper bars such that a candle of the desired length can be produced and whereby a single continuous wick-cord may be readily passed between corresponding upper and lower wedge-hooks to obtain a plurality of substantially vertical wicks in said rack in order that a plurality of individual, separate candles can be produced by the dip method and whereby the individual, separate candles may be readily freed from said lower wedge-hooks by passing a knife along the upper plane of said lower elongated members and cutting the wicks at that point.

CARL J. SCI-IROEDER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 9,696 Kendall May 3, 1853 125,632 Traux Apr. 9, 1872 705,289 Peck July 22, 1902 1,168,433 Seiter Jan. 18, 1916 2,007,773 Schroeder July 9, 1935 2,241,176 Boecler et a1 May 6, 1941 2,241,177 Boecler et al May 6, 1941 2,478,202 Moore Aug. 9, 1949 2,486,469 French Nov. 1, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 361,878 Germany Oct. 20, 1922 

